Construction on Tickle's restaurant in Swansea is on schedule

Tickle’s, the well-known gift shop and tea room on Route 6, is getting closer to opening a full-scale restaurant.

The new building constructed behind Tickle’s is about 30 percent complete and is expected to open in the fall.

So far, the beams and some walls are up and the roof is topped with a copper cupola. Soon, a custom weather vane will complete the structure.

“We designed it to look like a carriage house,” said Lynn Tickle, owner of the shop with her husband, Jack. “Things are going smoothly.”

Tickle’s has been open for 24 years, 17 at its present location at 2219 GAR Highway. The building was constructed with beams from an old Vermont tavern.

The retail shop sells items like jewelry, name-brand gifts and collectibles, children’s items and apparel. The tea room offers lunch and desserts seven days a week.

The Tickles purchased the adjacent property to erect the 3,400 sq. ft. restaurant building and have already secured a liquor license.

Tickle said the restaurant will seat 134 diners. It will consist of two rooms, a garden room with a fireplace for intimate dining, and the tap room in the main carriage house with a large square bar and cathedral ceiling for more casual dining. There will also be a garden and outside dining on the terrace.

Construction is by general contractor Dennis Leonardo. Interior designer Kyla Coburn will design the restaurant’s interior.

Tickle said they’ve used all local contractors for the new building.

Chef Brian Meier, who has cooked in renown Providence restaurants including Al Forno, Trattoria Simpatico, and Bacaro, has been hired to cook in the restaurant.

The current building will continue to house the popular tea room.

Tickle said originally, it was to be moved into the restaurant, but an outcry from loyal customers changed the Tickles’ plan.

Instead, the tea room will be “more” like a tea room, Tickle said, with desserts and other bakery items made in the restaurant’s kitchen each day.

Tickle said they expect to hire a general manager for the restaurant and a staff of about 40 servers.

The idea to open a restaurant was inspired by the busy tea room.

“There’s always a lot of demand for the tea room,” Tickle said.

Tickle said she and her husband first considered an expansion project, but went instead with a separate restaurant.

“If you’re going to do it, just do it,” Tickle said.

A new entrance from Tickle’s to the restaurant will be installed, along with a new parking lot.

The new restaurant will offer lunch and dinner each day, and Sunday brunch.

Because the restaurant will be separate from Tickle’s gift shop and tea room, it will have its own identity.

Tickle said they’re working on a name for the restaurant, but for now it’s a secret.